Cyrus Chestnut

Music Isaac Hayes and Cyrus Chestnut Make way for the Sultan of Cool. Isaac Hayes, who recently was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is coming to Baltimore tomorrow for an evening of jazz. Hayes is perhaps best known for his soundtrack for the film Shaft (he was the first African-American to win an Oscar for best film score) and as the voice of Chef on the irreverent TV cartoon South Park. Joining Hayes at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., will be Baltimorean Cyrus Chestnut and his quartet.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., might be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but there's still plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of the holiday. "The Christmas Story: Picturing the Birth of Christ in Medieval Manuscripts" includes medieval illustrations based on the events of the Christmas story as recounted in the New Testament. This exhibit runs through Feb. 28. Admission is free. Call 410-547-9000 or go to thewalters.org. DANIELIA COTTON: This rock-and-roller influenced by the likes of Tina Turner, AC/DC and Joe Cocker comes to Rams Head on Stage, 33 West St. in Annapolis, at 8 p.m. Kat Parsons also performs.

By Sloane Brown and Sloane Brown,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | February 5, 2004

You could call one event last weekend a double debut. It was the first concert given in the recital hall of Maryland Institute's new Brown Center. You know, Baltimore's beautiful big ice cube of a building over on Mount Royal? And it was the first public event put on for the 3-year-old Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. And we haven't even gotten to the cool part -- the concert itself. Cyrus Chestnut, one of the world's top jazz pianists, dazzled for 75 minutes. GBCA honcho Nancy Haragan says she was blown away by Chestnut, as was the crowd of 500. "It was electrifying," Nancy says, "I heard a comment from someone who said he had [Chestnut's]

Just announced Duran Duran -- Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on May 27. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Pearl Jam -- Verizon Center in Washington on June 22. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Erykah Badu -- Pier Six Pavilion on May 10. She also plays DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on May 14. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Dave Matthews Band -- with Michael Franti and Spearhead, Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Va., on June 28. Also, the Jonas Brothers are there Aug. 18. Tickets go on sale at noon Saturday.

Cyrus Chestnut is a soft-spoken man, and over the phone he comes off as reserved, a little shy. But the jazz pianist's music suggests another side. "I want to be someone who's never stagnant," says Chestnut, who kicks off Towson University's Summer Performing Arts series tomorrow night at Stephens Hall Theatre. "Jazz is freedom. It's always been about that." Since the mid-1980s, the Baltimore artist, 43, has been one of the most respected pianists in jazz, releasing 14 well-received albums as a leader.

Cyrus Chestnut takes no satisfaction in being told he sounds the way he does on record or the same as his last performance. For him such comments suggest stagnation.The Baltimore-born jazz pianist's interest lies in progressing, improving, working toward mastery. He does not want to be a juke box."Too many times you go to a concert and you hear the record. You hear people playing the records. Even if I'm playing tunes off of my record, they're going to be different," Chestnut says during a telephone interview from the Hotel Hesperia in Barcelona, Spain.

By J.D. Considine and J.D. Considine,SUN MUSIC CRITIC | October 14, 2000

Over the years, Cyrus Chestnut has accompanied two of the most singular women of song: The late jazz singer Betty Carter, with whom he first made his name, and the great classical soprano Kathleen Battle, with whom he appears tomorrow at the Meyerhoff. Naturally, playing behind such legendary singers has taught the Baltimore-born pianist many things, including diplomacy. Asked how he would compare the two singers, he gracefully dodges the question. "Betty Carter is Betty Carter, Kathleen Battle is Kathleen Battle," he says.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: The Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., might be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but there's still plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of the holiday. "The Christmas Story: Picturing the Birth of Christ in Medieval Manuscripts" includes medieval illustrations based on the events of the Christmas story as recounted in the New Testament. This exhibit runs through Feb. 28. Admission is free. Call 410-547-9000 or go to thewalters.org. DANIELIA COTTON: This rock-and-roller influenced by the likes of Tina Turner, AC/DC and Joe Cocker comes to Rams Head on Stage, 33 West St. in Annapolis, at 8 p.m. Kat Parsons also performs.

Just announced Duran Duran -- Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on May 27. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Pearl Jam -- Verizon Center in Washington on June 22. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Erykah Badu -- Pier Six Pavilion on May 10. She also plays DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on May 14. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Dave Matthews Band -- with Michael Franti and Spearhead, Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Va., on June 28. Also, the Jonas Brothers are there Aug. 18. Tickets go on sale at noon Saturday.

Parodying politics and more "Clinton and Bush Rock 'n Roll Party," "Larry King Live in Highlandtown" and "Springtime for Ehrlich" are just a few of the comedic sketches you'll see at Creative Alliance's "Loyal Opposition" show at 8 p.m. tomorrow. "Loyal Opposition" aims to combine political humor, impressions, satire, improv and music. Four-time Emmy Award-winning comic Bob Heck impersonates Bill Clinton, Larry King, Regis Philbin and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The show takes place at Creative Alliance, 413 S. Conkling St. Tickets are $10; $8 for Creative Alliance members.

INSIDE TODAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS A DIMMING SPOTLIGHT Though baseball is a sport that celebrates numbers, statistical milestones just don't seem to carry the same weight they once did. Roger Clemens' pursuit of his 350th victory didn't get nearly that bright of a spotlight. Sports baltimoresun.com/schmuck Calling without borders CALLING WITHOUT BORDERS She's miles and worlds away from Ghana, where she teaches, but a Maryland professor can't help but reminisce on her African students and the university's lack of books.

Cyrus Chestnut is a soft-spoken man, and over the phone he comes off as reserved, a little shy. But the jazz pianist's music suggests another side. "I want to be someone who's never stagnant," says Chestnut, who kicks off Towson University's Summer Performing Arts series tomorrow night at Stephens Hall Theatre. "Jazz is freedom. It's always been about that." Since the mid-1980s, the Baltimore artist, 43, has been one of the most respected pianists in jazz, releasing 14 well-received albums as a leader.

The man and the woman found dead this week in a townhouse in the Hillendale area were stabbed and shot, county police said yesterday. Girard Scott Hall Jr., 22, and Frances Theresa Childress, 25, both of the first block of Astro Court, died of at least one stab wound and gunshot wounds, said Cpl. Michael Hill, a police spokesman. Hill said police were not releasing any more details on the fatal injuries "for investigative reasons." Hall and Childress were not believed to have been victims of a random attack, police said.

By Sloane Brown and Sloane Brown,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | February 5, 2004

You could call one event last weekend a double debut. It was the first concert given in the recital hall of Maryland Institute's new Brown Center. You know, Baltimore's beautiful big ice cube of a building over on Mount Royal? And it was the first public event put on for the 3-year-old Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. And we haven't even gotten to the cool part -- the concert itself. Cyrus Chestnut, one of the world's top jazz pianists, dazzled for 75 minutes. GBCA honcho Nancy Haragan says she was blown away by Chestnut, as was the crowd of 500. "It was electrifying," Nancy says, "I heard a comment from someone who said he had [Chestnut's]

Parodying politics and more "Clinton and Bush Rock 'n Roll Party," "Larry King Live in Highlandtown" and "Springtime for Ehrlich" are just a few of the comedic sketches you'll see at Creative Alliance's "Loyal Opposition" show at 8 p.m. tomorrow. "Loyal Opposition" aims to combine political humor, impressions, satire, improv and music. Four-time Emmy Award-winning comic Bob Heck impersonates Bill Clinton, Larry King, Regis Philbin and Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. The show takes place at Creative Alliance, 413 S. Conkling St. Tickets are $10; $8 for Creative Alliance members.

Music Isaac Hayes and Cyrus Chestnut Make way for the Sultan of Cool. Isaac Hayes, who recently was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is coming to Baltimore tomorrow for an evening of jazz. Hayes is perhaps best known for his soundtrack for the film Shaft (he was the first African-American to win an Oscar for best film score) and as the voice of Chef on the irreverent TV cartoon South Park. Joining Hayes at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., will be Baltimorean Cyrus Chestnut and his quartet.

INSIDE TODAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS A DIMMING SPOTLIGHT Though baseball is a sport that celebrates numbers, statistical milestones just don't seem to carry the same weight they once did. Roger Clemens' pursuit of his 350th victory didn't get nearly that bright of a spotlight. Sports baltimoresun.com/schmuck Calling without borders CALLING WITHOUT BORDERS She's miles and worlds away from Ghana, where she teaches, but a Maryland professor can't help but reminisce on her African students and the university's lack of books.

The man and the woman found dead this week in a townhouse in the Hillendale area were stabbed and shot, county police said yesterday. Girard Scott Hall Jr., 22, and Frances Theresa Childress, 25, both of the first block of Astro Court, died of at least one stab wound and gunshot wounds, said Cpl. Michael Hill, a police spokesman. Hill said police were not releasing any more details on the fatal injuries "for investigative reasons." Hall and Childress were not believed to have been victims of a random attack, police said.

By J.D. Considine and J.D. Considine,SUN MUSIC CRITIC | October 14, 2000

Over the years, Cyrus Chestnut has accompanied two of the most singular women of song: The late jazz singer Betty Carter, with whom he first made his name, and the great classical soprano Kathleen Battle, with whom he appears tomorrow at the Meyerhoff. Naturally, playing behind such legendary singers has taught the Baltimore-born pianist many things, including diplomacy. Asked how he would compare the two singers, he gracefully dodges the question. "Betty Carter is Betty Carter, Kathleen Battle is Kathleen Battle," he says.

Spirit of Christmas fills the MeyerhoffThe Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., rings with the soulful sounds of Christmas when Thomas Wilkins conducts the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Evelyn Simpson-Curenton Singers and jazz pianist and Baltimore native Cyrus Chestnut (pictured) in a rousing holiday program at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. Also decking the Meyerhoff with holiday sounds will be the Canadian Brass at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets are $18-$40 for tomorrow's concert and $20-$40 for Tuesday's performance.